ARLINGTON, Texas – The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Texas Longhorns 28-14 in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday night. 

Ohio State will go on to play Notre Dame in the national championship later this month.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 10: The Texas Longhorns huddle before the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against the Ohio State Buckeyes at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Fourth quarter:

Ohio State answered first in the fourth quarter. They took the lead 21-14 with less than eight minutes left in the game.

Texas marched down the field but came up empty-handed. 

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was sacked, leading to a fumble. Ohio State recovered the ball and ran it back for an 83-yard touchdown. 

Ohio State now leads 28-14 with less than three minutes left.

With Texas’ first drive back, Ewers was intercepted.

Ohio State wins the Cotton Bowl Classic 28-14 over the Texas Longhorns

Third quarter:

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard threw an interception during their first drive of the quarter. Texas was unable to answer.

With less than four minutes left in the third, Texas tied the game 14-14.

Second quarter:

To start the second quarter, Texas fumbled the ball twice, but recovered the ball both times.

Ohio State had several penalties, keeping them from marching up the field.

Texas tied the game 7-7 with less than a minute left in the first half.

Ohio State answered back with a 75-yard run for a touchdown. Ohio State took the lead again, 14-7, to end the first half.

First quarter:

Ohio State won the coin toss and deferred for the second half. The Longhorns will have the ball first.

Texas was unable to score on their first possession of the game. Ohio State now has the ball.

Ohio State is on the board first. Texas trails 7-0.

To end the first quarter, Ohio State had the lead 7-0.

Texas vs Ohio State: How to watch, stream

• Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
• Where: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
• Date: Friday, Jan. 10
• Time: 6:30 p.m. (CT)
• TV: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV (with subscription)

Match-ups to Watch

Quarterbacks 

Neither quarterback in this game is a stranger to playing in Arlington.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&T Stadium.

Texas won the Big 12 in its last season in the conference last year. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State. He led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship win over then-undefeated TCU two years ago.

Stopping Smith

The best match-up of the game could be Texas All-American senior cornerback Jahdae Barron vs. standout Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. Barron won the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.

College Football Playoff National Championship

• Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas Longhorns/Ohio State Buckeyes
• Date: Monday, January 20
• Time: 7:30 P.M. (CT)
• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes will face off in Arlington, Texas on Friday in the College Football Playoff semifinal.

The winner of the game between Texas (13-2) and Ohio State (12-2) will go on to play Notre Dame in the national championship.

Texas vs Ohio State: How to watch, stream

• Texas Longhorns vs. Ohio State Buckeyes
• Where: AT&T Stadium – Arlington, Texas
• Date: Friday, Jan. 10
• Time: 6:30 p.m. (CT)
• TV: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV, Fubo, YouTube TV (with subscription)

Key Players

Quarterback matchup

Neither quarterback in this game is a stranger to playing in Arlington.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard and Ewers both won Big 12 championships the last time they played at AT&T Stadium.

Texas won the Big 12 in its last season in the conference last year. Howard transferred to Ohio State from Kansas State. He led the Wildcats to a Big 12 championship win over then-undefeated TCU two years ago.

Stopping Smith

The best matchup of the game could be Texas All-American senior cornerback Jahdae Barron vs. standout Buckeyes freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith. Barron won the Thorpe Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive back. But Barron gives up four inches and 15 pounds to Smith, the second-team All-American who may be the most electric freshman in the country. Smith has 70 receptions for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns. Smith has four touchdowns in these playoffs.

Predictions

• Pick Against the Spread: Texas (+6)
• Pick Over/Under: Under (53.5)
• Prediction: Ohio State 27, Texas 22

Predictions are made by the Data Skrive betting model.

FOX Sports Analyst Joel Klatt went with Ohio State in his prediction for the Cotton Bowl. Klatt says the Buckeyes are playing the best football in the country right now and the fact that the game is being played in Texas is keeping the line (Texas +6) lower than it should be.

• Klatt: Ohio State 35 – Texas 21

National Championship Game

The winner of the Longhorns and Buckeyes game will take on Notre Dame in the championship game.

The game will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Longhorns played in the SEC Championship and against Arizona State in the College football playoff.

• Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Texas Longhorns/Ohio State Buckeyes
• Date: Monday, January 20
• Time: 7:30 P.M. (CT)
• Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia

TEXAS — The 89th Texas Legislature will start on Jan. 14 with 181 lawmakers.

The House of Representatives’ organization will be managed by Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who will also select temporary officers. The Secretary leads until a Speaker of the House is elected.

Secretary Nelson announced that Walter Fisher and Sharon Carter were appointed as parliamentarians for the House’s session inauguration.

“This is a duo with extensive parliamentary knowledge and the experience to guide the opening of the 89th Legislative Session,” said Secretary Nelson. “With the support of these individuals, we will make sure the organizing of the House is a fair, transparent and orderly process.”

The 150 members of the Texas House of Representatives and the 31 members of the Texas Senate will be sworn in as the 89th Legislature on Tuesday. The legislature will meet until June 2. 

You are able to watch the Senate proceedings on opening day at this website.